Bitcoin Paradox # 1

[frenulum]

I completely agree with the OP. No offence to anyone on this forum but sometimes I think it should be renamed "nerdcoin". The technology and folklore behind Bitcoin are fascinating, and the investment potential is alluring, but the practical uses so often seem completely ignored.

Even if you look at "introduction to Bitcoin" videos on YouTube, it's all about decentralisation, the blockchain, mining, cryptography, etc. .. when in fact a layperson really just needs to be shown how you can instantly transfer "cash" between cellphones, or over email, etc

[marky89]

I completely agree with the OP. No offence to anyone on this forum but sometimes I think it should be renamed "nerdcoin". The technology and folklore behind Bitcoin are fascinating, and the investment potential is alluring, but the practical uses so often seem completely ignored.

Even if you look at "introduction to Bitcoin" videos on YouTube, it's all about decentralisation, the blockchain, mining, cryptography, etc. .. when in fact a layperson really just needs to be shown how you can instantly transfer "cash" between cellphones, or over email, etc

People don't need bitcoin to "instantly transfer cash between cellphones, or over email, etc".... there are plenty of services they can use to do that. So why bitcoin? I think the emphasis re: organic adoption should be less on the consumer-side.

The thing is, much of the value attributed to bitcoin has nothing to do with the transfer protocol, per se. Sure, we want average people to use it to send money. But bitcoin isn't just a replacement for Apple Pay and the like. It's important for people to learn what bitcoin is and why it has value to begin with -- that it is not simply a transfer protocol but a new asset class... a new kind of money.

Think of it like a transferable, digital gold. Decentralization is what gives a limited supply token value; it cannot be externally devalued. Cryptographic security and proof of work mining -- these aspects of the protocol are what makes those tokens retain value -- it is extremely difficult/expensive to roll back spends or remove transactions from the blockchain. In other words, this is what makes bitcoin "money".

Sure, people can devise more smooth Google or Apple-like wallets and services, so people don't even realize they are using bitcoin in day-to-day use. But the "killer app" is already here: decentralized, transferable value. It's not an easy concept to understand off the bat, but that's what newcomers need to understand.

[futureofbitcoin]

But bitcoin is in no way noob friendly, and the majority of the community prefer to keep it that way.

so, noobs ?
sorry, if noobs don't read FAQ, i can't help.

This is EXACTLY the kind of attitude the OP was talking about. It's absolutely toxic to bitcoin.

[R2D221]

but sometimes I think it should be renamed "nerdcoin"

We also should have named the Internet “Internerd” 20 years ago. But now, everyone is in Facebook sharing Minion pictures.

The problem with Bitcoin is that it still is new technology. As more and more people start to use it, those high-technical explanations about the blockchain and scripts and so on should disappear.

[Yofun]

Bitcoin is not that hard to use.... Its simple.

[VCLChief]

Bitcoin is not that hard to use.... Its simple.

Its simple but why use it? There needs to be a consumer side incentive. Some type of "COUPON".

[bitbaby]

As far as usage of Bitcoin is, I think it's pretty easy for the modern kids as they're already use to a lot of tech, it might be a bit difficult for the older kids but they can also understand it, if they make an effort. It's a new technology and it takes time, Email, was pretty hard to use for some people at the start but now almost everyone uses it. What I think is a little difficult right now is buying/selling of bitcoin, with all the scam going on one has to be really careful when buying/selling but new people don't realize this and usually are the ones getting scammed and that's the only area of my concern about Bitcoin right now.

[Quantus]

I'm a horrible communicator when it comes to Bitcoin; I'll leave it up to others to help newbies.

If asked a specific question I'll try to help but often, newbies don't even know what questions to ask. 

I find the biggest misunderstandings new users have is the line between Bitcoin the Network and Bitcoin services provided by 3rd parties.

[suda123]

Almost everyone wants bitcoin to grow and become mainstream. But bitcoin is in no way noob friendly, and the majority of the community prefer to keep it that way. For bitcoin to become mainstream the majority of users are going to have to be noobs, with most not knowing or caring about the inner-workings of the technology.

Here is a fictitious quote I made up to put things in perspective.

Old-school credit card user: 
"ZOMG, you have been using a credit card for 3 years and you don't even know that the magnetic stripes tracks one and three are typically recorded at 210 bits per inch? pfff Go back to cash noob credit cards are not for you."

Me:
  "But, I just want to buy a soda."

Let's say everyone was warned in an economic collapse is coming and they announce bitcoin is the new currency should it be worth more then 1 billion?

Simple because the last people to purchase bitcoin like per satoshi is 10$s

Would prices change to fix the people that are late buyers in bitcoin?

Or simply because they are late there in poverty

[gogxmagog]

Almost everyone wants bitcoin to grow and become mainstream. But bitcoin is in no way noob friendly, and the majority of the community prefer to keep it that way. For bitcoin to become mainstream the majority of users are going to have to be noobs, with most not knowing or caring about the inner-workings of the technology.

Here is a fictitious quote I made up to put things in perspective.

Old-school credit card user: 
"ZOMG, you have been using a credit card for 3 years and you don't even know that the magnetic stripes tracks one and three are typically recorded at 210 bits per inch? pfff Go back to cash noob credit cards are not for you."

Me:
  "But, I just want to buy a soda."

there is a learning curve but if you really want the knowledge its out there and easy to get. new potential users who want to understand bitcoin and ask me... i tell them... "first download bitcoin core, it will take about a week, then reserve an afternoon off and study. bitcoin.org bitcoin wiki and here at bitcointalk. I let them know there is quite a bit to learn but after a few hours of study you should have it mostly figured out. keep studying and looking around the forums. by the time core is fully downloaded you should be ready to roll."

then i warn them that bitcointalk has a lot of users who are smarmy computer nerds who delight in mocking people who dont have the obscure knowledge they do. learn to ignore these butthurt losers and you will find not everyone is such an asshat, plenty users are glad to help and understanding"

bitcoin isn't that hard to use, its just that a lot of the spineless anon users are hard to take.

[BurnRubber]

Funnily enough those who say it's easy to use are those who are currently using it. It's easy once you're rolling but there's a mountain to climb to get just anyone to roll. It takes decades for new concepts to take root.

There are no shortage of third parties beavering away. It can only really be truly widespread when its use is a mindless act and it's such a no brainer that you don't need to justify why you're using it to yourself.

Pretty much agree with this.

There is a learning curve with Bitcoin at the moment. I don't think a learning curve actually ever disappears, it's only the next generation who grow up with it and learned it young that don't really notice it. I remember when Facebook had a learning curve, in some ways it still does. It was also only the fact that so many people started using it that people stopped thinking about the curve and suffered it.

If Bitcoin isn't all over the place in ten years, that's when I'd start to worry.

[dothebeats]

Who are you referring to as the majority? We're trying to come up with a rather complete layman
's definition and how-to explanation of bitcoin to attract people to use bitcoin. Many are interested, but yes, most are overwhelmed by the complication present in bitcoin. It prevents adoption to boom.

[Kakmakr]

Why are people so obsessed about the user-friendliness of Bitcoin, when there are so many online wallets and payment processors out there to make it idiot proof? The most difficult decision they need to make, is to chose which of these services are the best and most secure option to take.

How many people know how the TCP/IP protocol help the internet to function? BUT they still use the internet? Ask the normal user to give you his or her IP address or gateway or DNS and they will not know what you talking about, BUT they still use the internet. 

Use the applications and the services and forget about the internal protocols that enable it. 

[CoinBateman]

The addressing system is really rather cumbersome. Is there no way we could attach some kind of decentralised dns system to map the long address to registered names?

[NorrisK]

I completely disagree to anyone saying using bitcoin is easy at the moment.

Sure, if you have spent time in getting to know it, it is easy. The services are fast and easy, but there is still a massive barrier to get started with bitcoin.

Real adoptation will only happen when people don't need to bother with the basics of bitcoin and when they can just use their apps to do it.

[Melds]

All markets are full of noobs, the herd mentality is strong.

[n2004al]

I find the using of bitcoin easy and that can be learned by itself (if you want to do seriously this) with the help of an other person which is a little more expert and know how to use it. Needed to understand which is (digital money, internet money, not physical form), needed to open a wallet (can be learned in 2-3 minutes) and to navigate within it to learn how is organised (needed 10-15 minutes depending from the wallet), what is an address of your wallet , where to find it and how to create one (can be learned in 2-3 minutes) and at the end how to send bitcoin. Then to show a site which show the data of blockchain and learn the meaning of the confirmation of the transaction (can be learned within other 2-3 minutes).

Maybe seems to many things but are longer explaining those than doing those.

[LiteCoinGuy]

Almost everyone wants bitcoin to grow and become mainstream. But bitcoin is in no way noob friendly, and the majority of the community prefer to keep it that way. For bitcoin to become mainstream the majority of users are going to have to be noobs, with most not knowing or caring about the inner-workings of the technology.

Here is a fictitious quote I made up to put things in perspective.

Old-school credit card user:  
"ZOMG, you have been using a credit card for 3 years and you don't even know that the magnetic stripes tracks one and three are typically recorded at 210 bits per inch? pfff Go back to cash noob credit cards are not for you."

Me:
  "But, I just want to buy a soda."

exactly, using bitcoin it is a little nightmare for the average joe (is was even worse in 2013). but we dont need or can handle mainstream adoption yet. so it is "actually a good thing"  

[batesresearch]

Bitcoin does need to be simplified but just in the way of giving the users a general overview of how their 'money' would work if they converted it into bitcoin.

The general public don't know the technicalities of a bank account actually works, how a debit card works, how chip & pin works etc they just know its simple to remember and easy to do - We only need to apply the same to the bitcoin arena.